When your life changes, it's important to share the news with DFAS

By DFAS Corporate Communications     May 2026

As a retiree, the sooner you alert the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) to any life change that might affect your pay, the timelier and more accurate your pay will be. Keeping your account updated includes making sure your mailing address, email address, banking information, allotments, tax withholding status, and beneficiary choices are current.

Be sure to report any change of life events as soon as they happen. These life-changing events might include:

  • Moving
  • Marriage or Remarriage
  • Divorce
  • Birth or adoption of a child
  • Death of a spouse or child
  • Direct Deposit account changes

Some changes, especially those regarding Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) coverage, have a one-year time limit, so it is very important that you notify DFAS of life-changing events when they happen. And when you notify us, be sure to include photocopies of supporting documents, such as birth or marriage certificates.

Now it’s easier than ever to keep your SBP account up to date. If you are making a change to your SBP coverage because of a life event, you can use our new Form Wizard to assist you in completing the DD Form 2656-6, SBP Election Change Certificate, found at: https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/forms/dd/dd2656-6.pdf.

We also have a Form Wizard to assist you with the DD Form 2894, found at: https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/forms/dd/dd2894.pdf to update your Arrears of Pay (AOP) (last paycheck) beneficiary.

When using DD Form 2894 Form Wizard to complete your form, you can take advantage of a fully online experience with electronic signature, and a convenient one-click upload to AskDFAS.

In addition, if you have a question about your account, you can now submit your question via our new AskDFAS online “Ask a Question” tool instead of needing to call our Customer Care Center during business hours. You’ll get a response via AskDFAS that you can check when it’s convenient for you.

You can also update your mailing address using our convenient AskDFAS online tool.

Keeping your contact information updated is key to staying informed. DFAS occasionally sends out correspondence regarding changes in the law that affect your pay.

DFAS continues to develop helpful tools and information to make managing your account easier. Find out more on our Quick Tools webpage at https://www.dfas.mil/RetiredMilitary/Quick-Tools-for-Retirees-SBP-Annuitants-Survivors/.

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